Illuminated novelty confection

ABSTRACT

An illuminated confection assembly includes a light device, a light transmission element attached to the light device, and an edible confection attached to the light transmission element. The confection has an interior portion that is adapted and constructed to receive light from the light device via the light transmission element. The confection further includes a light passage arrangement which permits light to pass from the interior portion of the confection to the ambient atmosphere and thus be generally observable. The confection can be transparent or translucent, or may be opaque with light passages formed therein. In various embodiments, the confection assembly can include a tube with a reflective inner coating, a confection specifically designed to fit tightly on the tube, a light bulb, a battery, and a switch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No.60/126,719 filed Mar. 29, 1999.

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY-SPONSOREDRESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to illuminated novelty items. Inparticular, the invention relates to illuminated novelty confectionssuch as lollipops.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

As marketers of hula hoops, pet rocks, and yo-yos will attest, thepopularity of most children's items is fleeting at best. The item thatthe child could not live without last month, which the child insistedthat the parent acquire at all cost, sits neglected and abandoned ashort time later, spurned for the Next Big Thing. Despite this ephemeralspotlight, a few items endure as “classics”, guaranteed to delight nomatter what the latest fad may be.

Among these classics are flashlights and candy. The universal appeal offlashlights may stem from their simplicity. In the hands of a child, aflashlight can become a spotlight one minute, a light saber the next,and a medium for shadow-puppets soon thereafter. In most households withchildren, it is next to impossible to maintain a flashlight foremergencies without securing it out of reach of small persons.Similarly, the popularity of candy is well-documented, and its appeal tochildren almost proverbial.

Understandably, there have been many attempts to enhance the appealenjoyment of these items. Confectioners have introduced candy thatexplodes, spins, plays music, and emanates from the throats of cartooncharacters. Flashlights with sirens, swords, and signal lights have allcome and gone in the marketplace.

There have been some attempts in the art to combine these concepts. Oneexample is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,748 to Schlotter, et al. TheSchlotter patent is directed to an illuminated candy holding device. Thedevice includes a replaceable candy cylinder attached to the end of aflashlight which is turned on to make the candy cylinder glow brightlywhile being consumed. It can be used as a wand, and after the candy hasbeen consumed, the device can be employed as a miniature flashlight. Thebattery may be permanently sealed inside the case and is notreplaceable. The device is provided with a removable clear plastic coverwhich is placed over the candy and which is secured in place at one end,for protection and storage of the candy, by the flashlight endconnector.

Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,373 to Coleman, et al. TheColeman patent is directed to a candy sucker holder entertainment devicein which a light flashes pulses of light onto a candy sucker users faceto the beat of music or as sounds made by an integrated circuit loadedwith the different sounds. A switch is operated to activate theintegrated circuit for the different sounds. The device is used mainlyby children for amusement during eating a candy sucker.

There is a significant degree of amusement value provided in the devicesdescribed in these patents. However, it will be apparent to those ofskill in the art that the opportunity exists for enhancing further theamusement and commercial viability of such products. For example, theshape of a lollipop on a “stick” is one with which consumers aremanifestly satisfied. However, known illuminated lollipops eitherilluminate the candy portion from the outside (as in the Coleman patent)or alter the configuration of the candy (as in the Schlotter patent).Additionally, known devices fail to provide adequate media foradvertising or other indicia, which would greatly affect the commercialversatility of the device.

It can be seen from the foregoing that the need exists for anilluminated confection that overcomes the shortfalls of knownarrangements in this technology.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, anilluminated confection assembly is disclosed. The confection assemblyincludes a light device, a light transmission element attached to thelight device, and an edible confection attached to the lighttransmission element. The confection has an interior portion that isadapted and constructed to receive light from the light device via thelight transmission element. The confection further includes a lightpassage arrangement which permits light to pass from the interiorportion of the confection to the ambient atmosphere and thus begenerally observable.

The confection can be transparent or translucent, or may be opaque withlight passages formed therein.

In various embodiments, the confection assembly can include a tube witha reflective inner coating, a confection specifically designed to fittightly on the tube, a light bulb, a battery, and a switch.

There are several designs, each with different mechanisms and switchesto activate the light. One embodiment of the invention is designed tohave a hollow tube with a reflective coating on the inside which is alsothe holder or handle for the confection. Another embodiment calls forthe placement of a well-fitted two layer foil/paper piece rolled up andslid inside the tube. When rolled and placed inside the tube, thepaper/foil piece will create a tension inside the tube which will holdit in place. The reflective foil has paper affixed to one side willcreate the spring tension necessary to keep the aluminum foil/papertightly fitted to the inside of the tube as it is rolled like a posteror map in a cylindrical tube. The paper side of the paper/foil piece maycontain writing or messages to be discovered after the pop has beenremoved or eaten.

In another embodiment, the confection with the tube attached slides overa common pen light. Another embodiment includes a light device that ismechanically affixed to the tube. Potential hazards or safety issuesregarding the lighting aspects, batteries, bulbs or fiber optics arealso addressed. The confection assembly can be provided with indiciasuch as messages or logos, and can take virtually any shape or color, orany possibility or combination of flavors. Frozen confections, evenchocolate designs with holes allowing light to pass-through, arecontemplated.

The confection does not necessarily have to be limited to candies, andcould include virtually anything edible. It is contemplated that theilluminated confection could be formed as artificial foods such asplastic grapes or strawberries, or as other objects, any of which may beprovided with scent or topical flavoring agents.

In addition to the entertainment value of the present invention, thereare practical aspects as well. For example if a child in a crowd atnight were difficult to find, the child could be instructed to hold up a“Light Pop”, which would help parents or guardians find the childeasily.

From a usage or demographic perspective, there are several possibilitiesincluding children's candies, specialty concessions, novelties,premiums, advertising and contest marketing. If the light transmissionelement is provided as a sealable tube, sales information or promotionalmaterial for other products, “secret messages”, horoscope, or virtuallyany message, advertisement, map, logo, prize information or otherprinted material can be included with the confection assembly. In anembodiment, the messages can be seen only by using the remaining lightafter the confection has been consumed or removed.

The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may bebest understood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a confection assembly in accordance withthe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an exploded view of a light device

FIG. 3 illustrates a reflective sheet.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of a confection assembly.

FIG. 5 illustrates a confection assembly after consumption of theconfection.

FIG. 6 illustrates an opaque edible confection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described indetail, exemplary embodiments, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered as illustrative of the principles of theinvention and not intended to limit the invention to the exemplaryembodiments shown and described.

A confection assembly 10 in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention is illustrated generally in FIG. 1. A confection 12 isconnected to a light transmission element 14, here provided as a tubularmember. The light transmission element 14 is connected to a light device16. The light device 16 is illustrated as a standard pen light. Theinner dimension of the light transmission element 14 is chosen toprovide a snug fit over the standard components of the light device 16.

The light transmission element 14 is provided with a safety ring or cone18 to enhance the safety of the device for small children. Each of thecomponents of the assembly 10 can be provided with a “snap-fit” design,which allows various combinations of the light transmission element 14to be snapped onto various configurations of the light device 16,allowing for several variations on a basic platform. The light device 16could be disposable, provided with “replacement” confections, or merelyfind residual use as a flashlight.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light device 16 also serves as a handle for theassembly 10. It is contemplated that the light device 16 would use aconventional power source, such as standard AA or AAA batteries 20.Other battery configurations could be utilized based on the marketpositioning and desired life of the light device 16. The light device 16can be configured to use a standard incandescent bulb, LED, or any othersuitable light-generating mechanism 22. In any event, the light device16 advantageously should be prevented from any foreseeable shiftingtoward the confection 12. A transparent unbreakable nylon screen 24 isprovided to inhibit the potential migration of particulate contaminantsfrom the light device 16 to the confection 12.

The size of the light device 16 can be expanded to allow for enhancedheat dissipation. Another possible design for this section would callfor small sized holes to allow for additional heat dissipation. Thereare other functional designs that could work well as a substitute forthis particular section. For example, a mirror safety handle on topcould give the midsection more of a diamond shape.

The light transmission element 14 can be affixed to the light device 16by any suitable method, such as a glued or screw-threaded connection.Alternatively, the light transmission element 14 and the light device 16can be molded as one piece. The light device 16 can include a switch 30,which can be provided as a “Turn Switch.” The pivot or rotation toactivate the switch would occur by twisting the safety handle opposingthe housing base.

The specific dimensions of the assembly 10 can be varied in accordancewith the size of the confection desired. It is contemplated that asuitable size would be in a range from 3.5-6 inches, with a sphericalconfection having a diameter of approximately 1.5 inches. Based upon thedesign of the edible top, just about design within reason could beutilized such as specific shapes like, animals, faces, fruit, logosvirtually any shape or form that could be secured onto the top of thetube section.

The confection can include a mounting hole 26, as shown in FIG. 4. Themounting hole 26 is located at the bottom of the confection, hereillustrated as having a depth of at least a quarter of an inch. Thelight transmission element 14 is inserted into the mounting hole 26,which is just slightly smaller then the diameter of the tube. Aninterior illumination hollow 28 is provided in the confection 12. Theillumination hollow 28 allows better diffusion of the light from thelight transmission element 14, thereby creating a more uniform luminouseffect emanating from the confection 12. The confection 12 could also beopaque with holes or transparent or translucent portions, wherein thelight emanates from the holes. The confection 12 could also containindicia that would be illuminated.

As shown in FIG. 3, a sheet 32 can be provided to be inserted in thelight transmission element 14. The sheet 32 can be provided with areflective “shiny” side, and a “paper” side containing indicia. Thepurpose of the shiny side of the foil is to act as a reflector for thelight passing through. The paper side has two functional characteristicswhich are to act as creating tension against the rolling up of the foiland as a means to supply written information. The sheet 32 is rolled andplaced inside the light transmission element 14 in the mid section. Theshiny or reflect inside of the sheet would be placed on the insidesurface, and the paper on the outside when rolled into position.

FIG. 5 illustrates the potential “byproducts” after the consumption ofthe confection 12. The light transmission element 14 can be removed,leaving the light device 16 as a mini flashlight with a reflector at theend. Since the interior of the safety handle is able to have areflective coating, the removal of the mid section tube will avail aseparate and individual product. Once the consumer is finished with thecandy, the flashlight is perfectly functional, providing enhanced value.The sheet 32 is capable of containing notes, coupons, or any type ofprint information that might help further market the product.

FIG. 6 illustrates a confection 12′ that is opaque with holes H. Lightemanates from the holes H, which could alternatively be provided astransparent or translucent portions.

While details of the invention are discussed herein with reference tosome specific examples to which the principles of the present inventioncan be applied, the applicability of the invention to other devices andequivalent components thereof will become readily apparent to those ofskill in the art.

Accordingly, it is intended that all such alternatives, modifications,permutations, and variations to the exemplary embodiments can be madewithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention asset forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An illuminated confection assembly comprising thefollowing: a light device; a light transmission element attached to thelight device, the light transmission element including a reflectiveinner coating; and an edible confection attached to the lighttransmission element, the confection having an interior portion that isadapted and constructed to receive light from the light device via thelight transmission element; whereby light from the light device passesfrom the interior portion of the confection to the ambient atmosphere.2. An illuminated confection assembly in accordance with claim 1,wherein the edible confection comprises a transparent edible confection.3. An illuminated confection assembly in accordance with claim 1,wherein the edible confection comprises a translucent edible confection.4. An illuminated confection assembly in accordance with claim 1,wherein the edible confection comprises an opaque edible confectionhaving light passages formed therein.
 5. An illuminated confectionassembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the light transmissionelement comprises the following: a hollow tube; and a piece ofindicia-bearing sheet material rolled up and slid inside the tube.
 6. Anilluminated confection assembly comprising the following: a lightdevice; a light transmission element attached to the light device, thelight transmission element including a hollow tube with a piece ofindicia-bearing sheet material rolled up and slid inside the tube; andan edible confection attached to the light transmission element, theconfection having an interior portion that is adapted and constructed toreceive light from the light device via the light transmission element;whereby light from the light device passes from the interior portion ofthe confection to the ambient atmosphere.
 7. An illuminated confectionassembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the edible confectioncomprises a transparent edible confection.
 8. An illuminated confectionassembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the edible confectioncomprises a translucent edible confection.
 9. An illuminated confectionassembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the edible confectioncomprises an opaque edible confection having light passages formedtherein.
 10. An illuminated confection assembly in accordance with claim6, wherein the light transmission plement includes a reflective innercoating.